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LEND Social Work Trainee Program

The LEND Social Work Trainee program is for students in graduate or doctoral programs and/or wanting to work towards clinical social work licensure and who have an interest in working with and supporting children and their families who experience neurodevelopmental and related disabilities.

The 16 hour a week, 10 month fellowship runs from September through June. A modest stipend of approximately $500 a month is provided.

The LEND programs are funded throughout the country by grants provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration's(HRSA) and Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCH). The Oregon LEND program in the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Institute on Development &Disability (IDD), is one of the premier programs in the country for training medical professionals in clinical care, research, community outreach, and advocacy for children with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities.

Leadership training is a distinguishing characteristic of the LEND training program. Leadership training prepares health care professionals to move beyond excellent clinical practice or public health practice to leadership, through research, teaching, administration, and advocacy. An MCH leader is a person who has the competencies and an enduring commitment to promote and improve the well-being of the nation's women, children and families by influencing individuals, organizations, practices and policies.

Leadership training in the Oregon LEND program is concerned with several dimensions, including leadership in the professional/clinical context, in group/organizational settings, in the policy arena and in the legal context of disabilities and development.

Fellowship in Social Work Opportunities Include:

One on one mentorship and social work clinical supervision

Mentored research project and research presentation

Leadership and teaching opportunities

Weekly interdisciplinary forums including topics related to clinical practice, community outreach, policy development, and family issues that affect children with disabilities

Opportunities for continuing education

Involvement in the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) network www.aucd.org

A Social Work Trainee will have the opportunity to collaborate with other trainees in clinical specialties, including, speech and language pathology, psychology, health administration, physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education, the family discipline and developmental pediatrics. There are also opportunities to work with ongoing research programs and to attend educational programs in the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) and in other parts of OHSU, such as grand rounds and presentations at other centers and institutes in the university.

The fellow will also have opportunities to pursue leadership training in the community in different ways, including the community engagement program and the Tillamook early childhood screening program.

Requirements of Applicants:

We select one Social Work Trainee per year (assuming the availability of funding).

The successful applicant for a Social Work Trainee in the Oregon LEND program at IDD should have at least a master's degree/doctoral student and/or interested in working towards clinical hours for licensure.

A strong academic record is required. The applicant will need to show a strong interest in developing leadership skills and helping others to do so for the purpose of system change and improvement with the goal of better maternal and child health and health care system operations.

This will be demonstrated by a personal statement, letters of recommendation and curriculum vitae.

How to Apply:

A personal statement that includes your interests in pursuing the Oregon LEND program and more generally in leadership in the field of disabilities and development. It would also be useful to indicate any particular goals that you have in mind for the training year

A current curriculum vitae

Two letters of reference and contact information for both

Please submit all application materials together in a single packet in hard copy or email application materials. Letters of reference may be sent separately.

Application Deadline:

March 1st is the deadline and the start date for when the selection process begins. The selection process is usually completed before the end of March.

All letters and inquiries should be addressed to:

Maureen DeLongis, MSW, LCSWSocial Work Discipline Director, Social Work Training CoordinatorOHSU, Institute on Development and DisabilitiesAssistant Professor, School of Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics